Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting - Regular Meeting

All right, welcome everybody to the Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting. It is Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. Let us all please come to order. And for the purposes of an invocation, please welcome Reverend Darren Kessler. And Darren, please.

Amen. All right, thank you once again, Darren, for sharing your words of grace and your words of community and wisdom to us. We very much appreciate it. If everyone will please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Turning to the county attorney for purposes of certification of the agenda. Yes, sir. The county attorney's office has reviewed all items on the agenda.

Very good, thank you, Councilor. Commissioners, any disclosures for items on this agenda? I have none, Mr. Chair, thank you. And none for me. All right, nor have I. Thank you, gentlemen. Let's get into our first item on the agenda today, which is Ceremonies and Proclamations. And our first item is the 2026 Older Adult Initiative Grant Recognition provided by Kim Smith, Community Programs Coordinator for Staff.

All right, thank you, Kim. Board, any questions for Kim before we proceed to hear from the organizations?

No, Kim, thank you as always for marshalling all of this wonderful information for us, and I would sincerely like to compliment our friend and colleague, George Thiel, for organizing and creating the Older Adults Initiative and really putting some money toward it. I think it's one thing to have a proclamation that recognizes seniors in our community that have made a difference, but to truly recognize them by burning shoe leather to meet with them and then bringing forward actual funding to make a difference is significant, so good job.

Thank you, Commissioner. I didn't spend any money. You and me, we spent money, pal. But thank you very much, Commissioner. I appreciate the accolades. Commissioner, any questions for Kim?

No, but big thank you, and I'll save most of my comments for after the presentations.

Okay, very good. At this time, we'd invite anybody up from the receiving organizations who would like to speak. Ma'am, please come on forward. And you are no stranger to the board, Carrie, but please come forward. Please do introduce yourself. Tell everybody where you're from, what you do, and please share your comments.

All right, thank you, Carrie. Anybody else? Maria, you are no stranger to the board, but please give us your name and tell us what you do here in Douglas.

Well, thank you, Maria. You're still my favorite Navy vet, and that's my story. I'm sticking to it. Ma'am, if you could come forward, please give us your name and tell us what you do.

Thank you, ma'am, very much appreciated. Sir, come on forward, tell us your name, tell us what you do.

All right. Thank you, sir. Very much appreciated. Ma'am, come on forward. Tell us what you do. Again, no wrestling on your way to the podium, people.

Thank you, ma'am. And by the way, the real thanks needs to go to Commissioner Layden, who once he heard about what I had in mind for the older adults initiative, what you were providing, what you were doing here in the county was entirely his inspiration and it's his vision that you are fulfilling right now.

Sorry for the love fest. I mean, that's the danger of two people working together for six years. There's a lot of memories of how things began, but have such a vivid experience like all of you during COVID when people in congregate care settings were told they couldn't connect with their loved ones. And we were seeing a lot of older adults really suffer emotionally. And sometimes they died in settings where they couldn't touch their loved one one last time. So having that connection and then also recognizing that kids really needed childcare and there are young parents that can't afford childc

All right. Thank you very much. Come on up, sir. No need for wrestling this time, I hope.

All right, thank you, sir. Very much appreciate it. Is there anyone else from one of the, oh, come on forward, ma'am. Please do give us your name. Tell us what you do.

All right, thank you, ma'am, appreciate it. Ma'am, come on forward and give us your name, tell us what you do.

Thank you, ma'am, appreciate it. Is there anyone else? Oh, Kim, it looks like you have mail for us to deliver. All right. Well, gentlemen, it does look like we have award letters to deliver. If you'll join me, let's go down front and call them up to receive their letters. All right. Chairman Teel.

All right. Usually we make the rookie go first, but I will be happy to begin with Aging Resources of Douglas County.

Okay, I've got Brothers Redevelopment Incorporated.

Thank you, sir, and it's my pleasure to bring up Manna Resource Center. Curious about the new headquarters.

Catholic Charities of Central Colorado And I have the Douglas County Housing Partnership

Nourish Meals on Wheels, please come on up.

And I don't know why I keep getting these ones, but the Castle Rock Senior Activity Center, please.

Okay. Well, and last but certainly not least, Early Childhood Service Corps.

So Drew is hovering persistently, so we're probably going to want to get a picture with all of us. But before that, can I please ask everyone to give all the recipients a round of applause?

Well, all right, our next item is a recognition of Aging Resources volunteer Mike, and if I slay this name, please excuse me and correct me later, Mike Gramis. All right, I got it right. This is to be presented by Aging Resources staff, so Carrie, either come forward, please, or send your evil minions, or not so evil minions. Oh, they're nice. So please do introduce yourselves and please begin when you're ready.

All right, Mike, I don't know if anybody shared the bad news with you, but you're not allowed to stand at the podium unless you make comments, particularly if you are given an award. So please, sir, share your comments.

Well, thank you, sir. Very much appreciated. Now, hang on a second. You're not allowed to go away because now it's time for the board to make comments. Board, comments, please.

Well, great people are the lifeblood of Douglas County, and in a community of 400,000, it still feels like Mayberry because of people like you that just selflessly wake up and say, I'm going to make a difference today, and I'm going to serve those who, frankly, have probably served us their entire lives. So it is not lost on me or this board how significant your contribution is. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Let me just piggyback on those comments. Very well said, Commissioner Layton. Thank you to the whole Aging Resources team. You guys do such incredible work for Douglas County. I can't thank each and every one of you enough, but specifically to Mike, like Commissioner Layton said, Douglas County is exceptional because of people like you. And it is so wonderful we get to honor you today. We can fund programs, we can empower our community partners like we just did by passing out checks to a lot of our not-for-profits in Douglas County. But the genuine care, Mike, that I've heard about

Thank you, Commissioner. You know, Commissioner Layton had some very kind words on my behalf with the Older Adults Initiative. Obviously, it was our predecessors who gave Carrie the job to provide a framework for the care and, you know, helping our older adults here in Douglas County continue what have obviously been very special lives into their later years. But none of the work we do here matters at all. If it's not for guys like you, it's guys like you that, that take these, these words that we say and turn them into actions and make them into something special for all of our neighbors. So

All right, our next item on the agenda is a Dr. Cogg Metro Vision Award for the Greenland Ranch Wildlife Overpass. Dan Dirts, Director of Open Space and Natural Resources presenting for staff. What are you doing bringing up former employees? They're not allowed up here anymore.

All right. Well, thank you, Andy. I very much appreciate it. Let's have a round of applause, not only for the county, but for Andy, too. Now, Dan, did we get the Metro Vision Award yet? Do we have that?

Let's do a photo with that because, you know, I don't know, having sat on Dr. Cogg for many years, and I don't know, Commissioner Van Winkle, if you'll agree, who knows when we're gonna get another one? So let's preserve the moment. Come on down, guys. And by the way, I do see a number of our COSAC board members. Please come forward as well.

Thank you. All right, moving on to the consent agenda. The consent agenda will be taken, all items on the consent agenda will be taken on one vote without discussion among the board. Any board member who does feel like an item needs additional discussion as well as public comment may remove any item from the consent agenda. Board, how would we like to take action on the consent agenda?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to approve the request in items A through B of the consent agenda. And I'll second that.

All right. We do have a motion and a second on the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. And it is passed. Moving to our regular agenda. First up on the regular agenda is the Mark Weston Open Space Memorial Request for Official Name Change of Property and Use of Open Space Funds from the Parks, Trails, Historic Resources and Open Space Sales Tax of up to $30,000. Dan Dirts, Director, Open Space and Natural Resources, presenting for staff.

Very good. Thank you, Dan. Questions from the board for Mr. Dertz?

You know, I don't have any questions, Dan, but you are such a tremendous leader in open space and have been a leader in our community for so long. You know, when I think about Mark Weston, who I did not know personally, but I know many, many people did for decades, and coupled with the last presentation where, you know, we really have the largest wildlife overpass in the country. I don't know about you all, but every once in a while on social media, I subscribe to the Good News website. websites for a little uplift once in a while. And one thing that was listed under good news were all these t

Thank you, Commissioner. All right, thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner, questions for Dan?

No questions for Dan at this time, but I am certainly looking forward to hearing from a few more folks about hearing about Mark.

Thank You Commissioner Dan I don't have any questions we've we've gone over this a couple times in other work sessions and I don't know I'm all in favor of approving this but I understand there are a couple folks who do wish to say more watching how Jay jumped right up and seemed to be striding right to the main podium I will be happy to recognize Jay please sir give us your name tell us what you do for the county

All right, thank you, Jay. Kathy, come on forward, but you gotta tell us your name, and you gotta tell us what you do for the county.

All right. Thank you, Kathy. We're happy to welcome the next speaker up. Ma'am, you are no stranger to the board, but please do give us your name and tell us where you're from. Michelle Clark, Castle Pines.

Thanks, Mickey. Ma'am, you are no stranger to the board, but please do tell us your name and tell us what you do.

Thank you, Jennifer. Appreciate it. Ma'am, come on forward. Give us your name. Tell us what you do.

Well, thank you, Brooke. Very much appreciate it. And the next speaker is welcome. Ma'am, please do give us your name and tell us where you're from.

Board, any questions for back to staff at this time?

Well, Mr. Chair, I don't have any questions. I think sitting here in my mind, I look at each of the individuals who spoke and I mean, what an incredible visionary, what an incredible leader Mark was. You can tell that he was the type that it wasn't about ego and it wasn't about politics. It was about what is the next right thing to do. And what I'll say is it's really tough to be that sort of visionary unless you have people like you, each of you, that are willing to say yes. Yes if, yes and, yes when, but yes, let's get there. And I would never dare to speak for Mark, but I imagine that so mu

Can I share any questions for staff? I Have no questions for staff. Let's open it up for public comment. I do not have anyone signed up for public comment Would anybody care to make public comment on this matter at this time? I And I'm seeing none, so let's bring it back to the board. Board, we do have a request to make an official name change on a county property, as well as dedicate county resources up to $30,000. How would we like to take action on this request?

Mr. Chair, if it does please the board, I'm honored and pleased to make a motion to approve Mark Weston Open Space Memorial request for official name change of property and use of open space funds from the parks, trails, and historic resource and open space sales tax up to $30,000.

It's my honor to second that motion. Public service, it takes so many forms and we've honored it a couple times today and acknowledged it a couple times today because it's really what makes Douglas County so great are those that give back and are always thinking of others. Mark Weston, he devoted years of his life, and I've really come to enjoy learning more about him in just the past couple months, but he devoted so many years of his life to his genuine passion to kind of shape the very character of what Douglas County is, and I think There is such a reflection of him and his devotion to open

All right, thank you, Commissioner. There is a motion and a second. I said it earlier when we were talking to our volunteer from older adult resources, aging resources. We can do almost anything within the law up here. None of that matters. None of that matters a bit. if it weren't for people who are willing to take up the torch and give up their time and the time away from their family to get things done on the ground. And, you know, listen, we all have jobs. You know, I worked in business for 20 years after the Army before coming here to the board. You know, just keeping the lights on, just

Mr. Chair, I would feel remiss if I didn't also add, you know, you and I got credit for supporting the ballot measure, but I will say, you know, it is that spirit of Mark Weston having folks that come after you that continue to carry forward your legacy. And I'll just add that our friend and colleague, Commissioner Van Winkle, has been part of the delivery of over 205 acres of open space right in his district in Highlands Ranch, as well as the largest and most historic delivery of parks really ever in Douglas County. So we appreciate you, Kevin, as well. And you're a welcome member to the team

Well, all right, gentlemen. There is a motion and a second for the discussion. Because this is a no-brainer, right? All right, well, all in favor of the request to officially rename and change, rename county property and use of open space funds from Parks and Trails and renaming it after Mark Weston, please say aye.

Aye. And that is approved. All right, moving along, our next agenda item is consent to terminate covenant at 10443 Tomahawk Road. Brett Thomas, planning manager, Department of Community Development.

Mr. Chair, after this item, might I beg for a bio break for a quick five-minute run to the restroom?

We could even give Brett a little bit of time to get set up, and let's go ahead and break for five minutes.

All right, let's come back to order everyone and let's return to our second item, which is consent to terminate covenant at 10443 Tomahawk Road. Mr. Thomas, please take it away.

All right, thanks, Brett. Easy to see why that name gets its name from the aerial. Any questions for Brett Boyd?

I have none, Mr. Chair. I'll reserve my questions following the applicant's presentation.

All right, let's go ahead onto the applicant's presentation. Please, sir, come forward. Please give us both your names, and do tell us your relationship to the project.

All right, thank you, sir. Board, any questions for the applicant?

I have none, Mr. Chair. I have none either.

Okay, I don't actually have any other questions. Actually, I do just have a question, but for staff. Brett, so let's say we do away with this covenant. The applicant does proceed to divide into four 35-acre parcels. It seemed like the math would work out for that. But then a subsequent owner of one of those parcels came in and asked to do a high density development in the area of like one to two acre lots. Would additional land use processes need to be made?

And just thinking about it, just looking at the location in the county, would a change to the master plan be required by the planning commission? Okay, so we can feel pretty confident about granting the applicant's request today, knowing that for anything, the property was pointed out to the west, which is a higher density. For any kind of development like that, further land use processes would be required.

Okay, I think that's my only question and we're turning it back to you guys for questions for the applicant or staff and seeing none, very good. Applicant may step back from the podium if you'd like and I'm gonna open up the floor for any public comment on this matter. I did not get anyone signed up for public comment. Is there anyone who would like to give public comment on this matter at this time? Seeing none, let's bring it back to the board. Board, we do have a request for consent to terminate a covenant. How would we like to take action?

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. I did look at this pretty thoroughly last week and was frankly a little puzzled as to what was happening in 1995 to create the covenant because as you promptly pointed out, really there's not a whole lot to be done, or that could be done, without pretty extensive land use, public hearings, public planning commission, and the commissioners going forward beyond, going from the three to the four, and they'd all have to be 35 acres. So I see no reason to deny whatsoever, and I move to approve the request for consent to terminate a covenant for, 104 43 Tomahawk Road and

All right. There is a motion in a second any discussion You know it's often forgotten Commissioner van Winkle that Actually people like to talk about how much Douglas County is growing now. Actually, the rate of growth in the early to mid 90s was even higher than it is today. And granted, you know, that was going from what, three, four, 5,000 people to 8,000 people. But if you think about it, that's doubling in the course of a single decade. We're not quite doing that now. So yeah, why would a landowner make that change? I can understand it. And then of course, let's harken back on what we hea

All right, well, thanks, Neil. Board, any questions for Neil?

You know, Neil, great presentation. I've known HEI Civil in their work for many, many years now. They've done a wonderful job. This looks like a great project. Thank you.

Any further questions? All right, Neil, I don't have any questions for you. I know that this one's been on our list for a while. It's good to see us getting to it. Thanks so much. Board, with that, I'll go ahead and open it up for public comment. I do not have anyone signed up to speak on public comment on this matter. Is there anyone who'd like to speak on this project? Seeing none, bringing it back to the board. Board, we do have a construction contract for approval. How would we like to take action?

Mr. Chair, if it does please the board, I'll make a motion to approve a construction contract with Huduk Excavating Incorporated doing business as HEI Civil for the Dakin Road Bridge replacement project for an amount not to exceed $4,555,132.36, Douglas County project number CI 2007-021. I second the motion. All right, there is a motion and a second. Any discussion?

You know, when I say that this has been on the list for a while, Neil, you know, correct me if I'm wrong, but this project number starts with the 2007. So it's been on our agenda for almost 20 years now, huh?

All right, well, thank you, Neil. Appreciate it. Gentlemen, any further discussion? I do speak in favor of the motion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. And the construction contract is approved.

Thank you, Neil. Appreciate it, buddy. Our next item is an intergovernmental agreement between the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District doing business as Mile High Flood District and the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado regarding funding for the Mile High Flood District Flood Risk Program. Douglas County project number is FC2026-008, Brad Robinstein, Robin, Robin, Robinstein, Drainage and Flood Control Engineer, Department of Public Works and Engineering. And Brad, if you need to correct how I pronounce your name, you go right ahead.

all right thank you sir uh board any questions for staff yeah thank you for that presentation i mean obviously we've seen a lot of rain and some interesting flooding recently in douglas county and snow certainly in my district we got a lot of water and hail just within the last few weeks when you think about the flood risk program what is your highest and best objective what are you hoping to achieve through the the flood risk program i think

Yeah, and thank you for that. So again, so maybe just walk us through what you're intending to do and what your hope of the outcome will be. Pardon? Maybe share with us what you're intending to do in the flood risk program and what you think the outcome will be.

Okay, so I'm gonna ask the obvious question for the public. Do we not already have a study like that that might tell us? Do we not already have a study like that that would tell us, give us that information?

Yeah. I never enjoy spending too much money on studies unless they lead to grant funding or additional practical solutions that serve our citizens. So I guess I'll ask the other question, which is are there, cheaper or better ways of achieving the same outcome in terms of information. And I was specifically thinking about AI and some of this newer technology, could we not?

Okay, so you're saying our funding is $124,000? $129,100. Okay, so to match that, it's gonna be a project that costs about $260,000?

Yeah, well, that seems like an awful lot of money for a study, but I know studies can sometimes take a lot. When are you hoping that the study will be completed by?

Let me ask, is our staff here who are working on this project? Where's Brad at? Oh, Brad is part of our staff. No, I guess what I'm wondering is if we have any in-house information that we can, instead of being duplicative, that we can build upon? Yeah.

So, Commissioner, maybe I should just jump in here. One of the things that I guess was not made clear is the real lead agency on this is the Mile High Flood District. So this is going on throughout the Denver metro area. This is our part of it, and there are other communities that are actually investing much more than we're being asked to. It is largely population-based, is how they handle the cost metrics, at least if I heard that right when this was briefed to the board. and to the Board of the Mile High Flood Control District, I should say, which I do represent the Board of County Commissio

Are they participating, Commissioner, or are the municipalities asking the county to pay for the municipal portion?

No, no, no, it's per municipality. It's per jurisdiction that is a member. And so, no, this is basically a mile-high flood control district saying, hey, everybody, this is what it's gonna cost. Can everybody kick in and do it? And so it's gonna be a bit innovative, The flood control, as Brad's presentation said, it's largely based on the insurance company's flood control zones. This is the Mile High Flood Control District attempting to get a model that is not based on actuarial tables, but actually based on the ground. And so actual surveys of the ground, and as Brad said, actual flood event m

It does. Thank you, Commissioner, and thanks for your representation of us on that board. Brad, I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to work together as often, but certainly, Dan, if you have anything else to add?

Those were the key words, guiding a five to $10 million investment. That's really helpful. Thanks, Dan.

Further questions for staff? All right, well obviously I have no questions. I kind of get it, I appreciate it, and great job with the briefing, Brad. Let's go ahead and open it up to public comment. I do not have anyone signed up for public comment on this matter. Is there anyone who would like to come forward and speak on public comment? Seeing none, bringing it back to the board. Board, we do have a request for an IGA between us and Mile High Flood Control, Mile High Flood District Flood Risk Program. Board, how would we like to take action?

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. And we spend so much time discussing the dangers to homes, to property, to lives in Douglas County. And a lot of times we talk especially wildfire because we're so innovative, we're so on the forefront versus every other county when it comes to wildfire. But I do know when it comes to flooding, it's also a major natural disaster risk that the county puts a lot of time and effort into. not just our urban areas, but all across the entire county for those once every 100 year events and such as that. So when it comes to this agenda item, I looked at it. I had several qu

All right, there is a motion and a second. Any discussion? So I will confess, when this was first talked about at my high flood, We were hearing from a lot of the other jurisdictions in the district on how they're so old and they've had so much development since their neighborhoods were originally planned, they really need this. They've had so much of the ground go from permeable to impermeable that they really needed this then i heard from staff that well it really is just level setting it is level setting with our current technology uh to be able to apply to yeah taking a look throughout the

One more discussion point, maybe since we have a board member and you all that are so expert in this, Douglas County dollars that are going to a regional study, what percentage of the study will actually come back to serving Douglas County?

Any further discussion gentlemen? I do speak in favor of the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. And the IGA and contribution are approved. All right. Thank you gentlemen, appreciate it. Next item on our agenda is Commissioner's comments. Commissioners, comments please.

The only thing on my mind was just, you know, we had Andy Howe talking about the history of our county and the way that we treat natural resources here. I'm really proud of it, and to me it reflects our nation's history, hearkening back to Teddy Roosevelt, who truly was one of our nation's greatest conservationists. But as a hunter, an outdoorsman, an avid member of our party, candidly, his view was never to exclude individuals from open space. protect wilderness at the you know for the sake of simply wilderness it was very human oriented and open to the public to enjoy and have their minds an

All right, seeing none, county manager's report. All right, thank you, Doug, appreciate it. Let's go ahead and adjourn. Our next business meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 1.30 p.m. We are adjourned. We will go ahead and get the technology flipped around and we'll begin our land use meeting and public hearing as quick as we can. Thanks, everybody.